Page 46 of Rookie Rules

"And after that?"

Luca answered. "Rowan reads the weak-side stick. I hold until he opens his blade."

"Did either of you do that?"

Neither spoke.

Vale dropped the puck into Rowan's glove. "You two spent a week making this readable. Do not make me guess why you have decided to become strangers."

He skated away before Rowan could answer.

Luca stared after him. "Should we tell him it's a philosophical experiment?"

The joke was offered lightly. An exit. A version of normal Rowan could have accepted.

"Just run the route," Rowan said.

Luca's expression emptied. "Sure, Captain."

The title had never sounded formal in Luca's mouth before.

They returned to the line. Finn looked from one of them to the other, then wisely faced forward.

Nolan started the next rep. Rowan came lower this time and forced himself to wait. Finn crossed. The defense shifted. Luca held his width until Rowan opened his blade.

The pass hit Luca in stride.

He cut inside, pulled the puck beyond Eli's reach, then checked the impulse to shoot through the first body. He moved it back to Finn, who found Rowan underneath. Rowan returned it right before the lane could close.

Luca released from the circle.

Crossbar.

The sound cracked through the rink.

Luca turned toward Rowan on instinct.

Their eyes met.

For one beat the corridor existed again. Luca's mouth. Rowan's choice to pull him closer before making the opposite choice.

Then Luca nodded once and skated to the back of the line.

Professional.

Rowan hated how much the restraint cost him.

During the water break, Finn leaned against the boards beside him.

"You know," he said, "most mentors speak directly to the person they're mentoring."

"I spoke to him."

"Through me. I charge for translation."

"There is nothing to translate."

Finn drank. "Great. Then whatever this is should be cheap."